Tuesday, January 24, 0:28 CST

Ok, I'm really back now. Honest.

I kept thinking I'll update this page when I get the network card
configured under Linux. With the luck I'm having there, it may be a
while. (It's a PCI token ring card. I have what I *think* should be the right
driver compiled into the kernel. /dev/tr0 doesn't exist. I'm at
something of a loss.)

Anyway. About the new hardware.

I love this thing. It's huge, ugly, loud, and *fast*. Ok, so I've been
using equipment with all the blazing speed and power of a toaster oven for the
past half decade, so I have no real basis for comparison. Who cares? I *know*
this thing is fast.

On the off chance anyone cares, I'll post a complete parts list with where I
bought stuff, etc., when I get around to modifying the
software page.

Some general observations about do-it-yourself assembling a new system:

It was easier than I expected. Quite a bit of fun, too. It took some time,
but half of it was spent fiddling around for no good reason, and looking up
stuff I'll know the next time around. (Good documentation is an absolute
requirement.) One should probably be careful not to wind up like one of those
guys who stands around in the garage looking under a hood, under the delusion
that this indicates some kind of mechanical skill (you know who you are). Still,
there's something definitely cool about having at least a vague idea what most
of the stuff in your system does, and where it's plugged in.

All in all, I think we're at a stage in the evolution of the PC where, given
some know how and the patience, there's not much reason to buy a pre-built
machine unless you need it *now*.

Moving right along (because it's late and I'm tired), here's your gratuitous
linkage for the day...

A less political Bloom County with a smaller cast, religious overtones, and
cat/dog humor? Ok, I'll stop trying to make futile comparisons between comic
strips. Whatever it is, Sinfest is worth a
read. (Those with easily bruised sensibilities be warned.)

BearShare - The World's Most
Powerful Gnutella Client Hmm. Maybe I gave up on Gnutella too soon.

I think I've mentioned this before, but QuakeForge is pretty cool. Especially
the GLQuake client at 1280x1020 with a decent set of speakers... I've been
playing this game for years, but this is the first time it's actually looked
*pretty*.

Ok, I need sleep now. Especially since I stayed up 'til 2 yesterday setting
up and playing Quake 2 with Gurney...